Government school wins energy efficiency award

7/6/01 A Government primary school has beaten tough competition to win a prestigious Western Australian award for reducing its emission of greenhouse gases by six tonnes a year.

7/6/01
A Government primary school has beaten tough competition to win a prestigious Western Australian award for reducing its emission of greenhouse gases by six tonnes a year.
Announcing the 2001 Energy Efficiency Awards today, Deputy Premier and Energy Minister Eric Ripper said Noranda Primary School had set up a solar energy plant and implemented energy efficiency practices to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Mr Ripper said the school was a community leader in sustainable energy use, generating 10 per cent of its annual energy needs through the solar power plant.
The school was the winner of the perpetual trophy and a $2,000 award for its energy management program and on-site power station.
"This small government primary school has shown outstanding commitment to improving the understanding of energy use and its environmental impacts. The school has shown that everyone can do something about greenhouse gas emissions," Mr Ripper said.
Other awards were:

  • Mr Phil Bianchi, Manager of Property Management and Administration at Central TAFE, who won the Honeywell Energy Achiever Award for an outstanding contribution to sustainable energy use at the college;
  • Orbital Engine Company, who won the Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Award;
  • Central TAFE and Energy Corporate (Australia) Pty Ltd who won the Commercial Buildings Award; and
  • Organic Resource Technologies Ltd, Energetics Pty Ltd and Western Power Corporation; who were joint winners of the Innovation Award.
"These projects are the cornerstones on which Western Australia can build a competitive renewable energy and energy efficiency industry," Mr Ripper said.
"These industries represent an emerging technology-based sector with the potential to create jobs while contributing to the State's sustainable energy future. From the quality of award entrants, it is clear that WA is well-positioned to benefit from the growth of this industry."
An independent panel with representatives from Honeywell Ltd, Department of Land Administration, Property Council of Australia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University judged the 27 entries.
Media contact: Darren Foster 9222 8788